Competitors line up their boats to be presented with a flag before splashing each other with water as they take part in the annual dragon boat race, held to celebrate the Tuen Ng Festival, in the Aberdeen typhoon shelter in Hong Kong on June 18, 2018. Anthony Wallace, AFP/Getty Images

Competitors splash each other with water in a traditional ritual as they take part in the annual dragon boat race held to celebrate the Tuen Ng Festival in the Aberdeen typhoon shelter in Hong Kong on June 18, 2018. Anthony Wallace, AFP/Getty Images

Participants compete in a dragon boat race on Jinjiang River to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival on June 18, 2018 in Tongren, China. The dragon boat festival as a traditional Chinese Festival is celebrated by eating rice dumplings and holding dragon boat races. VCG, Getty Images

A team competes during the Dragon Boat Race and Festival in Pearl River canal in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China on June 18, 2018. The Dragon Boat Festival or 'Duanwu jie' is one of the most important holidays in the traditional Chinese calendar. In southern China's Guangdong province, the boat races take place in many towns and villages that run along the countless canals and tributaries of the Pearl River. Aleksandar Plavevski, EPA-EFE

Participants compete in a dragon boat race as part of celebrations marking the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, held throughout Hong Kong on June 18, 2018. Dragon boat races are in remembrance of Chu Yuan, an ancient Chinese scholar-statesman, who drowned in 277 B.C. while denouncing government corruption. Vincent Yu, AP

Boaters will have to deal with some dragons Saturday on the Fox River.

The Greater Green Bay Dragon Boat Races will pit 13 teams against each other in a day full of races to see which 21-person squad can cover the 250 meters from the Walnut Street Bridge to the Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge fastest.

The opening ceremonies kick off at 8 a.m., the races begin at 8:30 a.m. and a champion should take the podium by 2:30 p.m. The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay has spent the last year preparing for the unique event to hit the Fox River and CityDeck. It will serve as a fundraiser for the club’s health and life skills programs, said Amanda Gay, the club’s director of special events and promotions.

It also will provide quite the spectacle for spectators and sailors alike, she said.

“Nothing like this has happened in Green Bay before. We want people to come out and witness how cool it is,” Gay said. “It's not your typical fundraiser. On the surface it looks pretty easy, but then you get in the boat and it's a different story.”

Dragon boat races have become popular fundraising and team-building events in the last two decades, including in northeastern Wisconsin. Teams are often guaranteed a certain number of races with more possible for teams with the fastest times.

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Thirteen teams will use arm strength and skill to battle it out on the Fox River on Saturday for the Greater Green Bay Dragon Boat Races.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Oshkosh hosted dragon boat races from 2006 to 2016 that peaked with an estimated 1,000 paddlers. The Boys & Girls Club’s first-year event won’t be that busy, but Gay said businesses, organizations and spectators often have to watch the event before they see the fun, teamwork and community spirit dragon boat races bolster.

“We really have promoted this as the perfect team-building opportunity. I think a few of the teams will really get into it,” Gay said. “It's an every-person sport, and I think that's a cool draw.”

Here’s a guide for first-time paddlers and spectators to help you enjoy a day at the boat races.

Oshkosh hosted dragon boat races from 2006 to 2016 that peaked with an estimated 1,000 paddlers. Saturday's races in downtown Green Bay are a first-time event. Teams are encouraged to dress up with a theme to boost the fun factor.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Paddlers

Teams feature 21 people, with a minimum of eight women, with 20 paddlers and a drummer. Race organizers provide a navigator.

Leave eyeglasses of all sorts on dry land.

Bring an extra change of clothes. You’ll probably get wet.

Adopt a team theme or costume for the event; it boosts the fun.

Fruit like bananas and watermelon, high-energy snacks, water and other food are vital.

Each team can set up a 10-foot-by-10-foot tent as a base of operations on CityDeck.

A good, vocal drummer is important for speed.

Know who you’re paddling next to in the boat for safety purposes.

It’s quite the workout, so stay hydrated and rested.

Spectators

It's free to watch from a variety of angles.

Races start every 15 minutes.

The Saturday Farmers Market goes until noon if you want a change of scenery.

Photography fans will enjoy plenty of opportunities for cool pics.

Bring cash if you’re interested in food, beverages or raffle tickets.

There's live entertainment on CityDeck throughout the day to fill time between races.